Posted on 05/18/2011 6:16:22 AM PDT by Jemian
I'm sitting in a comfortable chair, in a tastefully lit, cheerfully decorated drug den, watching a steady line of people approach their dealer. After scoring, they shuffle off to their tables to quietly indulge in what for some could become (if it hasn't already) an addiction that screws up their lives. It's likely you have friends and family members who are suffering from this dependence—and you may be on the same path yourself. But this addiction is not usually apparent to the casual observer. It has no use for the drama and the carnage you associate with cocaine and alcohol. It's slower to show its hand, more socially acceptable—and way more insidious.
I'm in a Panera Bread outlet.
(Excerpt) Read more at details.com ...
I wouldn’t compare carbs to cocaine. But I have noticed that when I avoid breads and pastas, I have less acid reflux. I’m usually okay with potatoes, rice, and some vegetables, though.
Yes. I baked my mother-in-law a pound cake about a month ago. A pound of eggs, a pound of butter, a pound of sugar and a pound of flour. I will not do that again for a loooooong time. All cakes come from the store (or my kids).
You would do well to watch this. It goes into scientific detail why carbs are the culprit. Carbs increase insulin and elevated insulin levels allow storage of fat. The lower the insulin levels and fat breaks down. This is why diets like Atkins works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6vpFV6Wkl4&feature=player_embedded#at=181
Knowledge is power.
Ah yes, the obese generations over thousands of years subsisting mainly on wheat, rice, corn - all those addictive, starchy carbs. /s
Give me a break.
I think that's right. When on a very low carbohydrate diet, I decided that carbs become subtly addictive. The fridge keeps calling to your inner ear.
Yep, it’s not the starches, it’s the way in which they’ve been “pre-processed” that removes all the nutrients and adds lots of sugar and fat.
Parish the thought if sugar and chocolate ever became banned substances.
The point there is activity level. There are people in Alaska that eat 3,000 calories of meat and fat a day. Researchers expected to find their cholesterol off the chart. Instead they are below normal - they are very active. The same is true of carbs. If everyone were very active this would not be a problem.
Have you ever eaten any bread in Italy? It’s horrible. Trust me, Italians don’t eat much bread, at least in their own country.
Absofreakintotalutely....
There is a book from the 80’s entitled something like ‘The Hidden Addiction,’ written by a doctor who noticed that alcoholics, heroine addicts, and smokers consumed enormous quantities of caffeine and sugar during detox, only to gain weight and become carb addicts. He offers a metabolic reason that all addictions come down to sugar.
There are some of us who for various reason, in my case a fractured vertebrae, cannot maintain a good active lifestyle. I used to be able to move and exercise, but now I can’t.
Carbs are as addicting as cocaine? What a bunch of BS. Too many people throw the word "addiction" around without any grasp of its meaning. Yeah, I'm addicted to FR and to chocolate. No, that's not addiction. Addiction is a real medical term defined by compulsive and habitual use of a substance that has physiological effects but is not necessary for survival. These things produce tolerance in addition to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms occur when you stop using them. Nicotine, cocaine and heroine are good examples of addictive substances, food is not.
The author of this article claims there is research that proves eating foods high in carbs activates drug like substances in the brain leading to food cravings, overeating, and obesity. This research supposedly shows that carbohydrate consumption causes an increase in neurotransmitter levels just as addicting drugs do. If this were true, you'd expect that drugs blocking opioid receptors would be useful in treating overeating. They aren't.
Foods high in carbohydrates may taste good but they are not addictive.
“Try going off carbs cold turkey”
Actually, I recently did. I went on a low calorie, carb free, pretty restrictive diet. I must be odd because I started to feel better almost immediately. Each day that passed, the better I felt as well. It may be how my metabolism works vs other people. For example, if I eat something in high carbs (spaghetti, for example), I won’t lose weight. Even if the spaghetti is carefully measure and I only eat 500 calories the entire day. I noticed that I won’t lose any weight for several days after that as if my body stored something from it. I was the same way when I was younger as well. Sometimes I wonder if ethnicity/heredity has something to do with it. Either way, I know carbs make me feel less energetic and sluggish.
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